Mr. Rankin. Can you tell us whether it was from your office or from a Federal office that such an idea was developing as far as you know?
Mr. Wade. Well, on that score it doesn't make any sense at all to me because there is no such crime in Texas, being part of an international conspiracy, it is just murder with malice in Texas, and if you allege anything else in an indictment you have to prove it and it is all surplusage in an indictment to allege anything, whether a man is a John Bircher or a Communist or anything, if you allege it you have to prove it.
So, when I heard it I went down to the police station and took the charge on him, just a case of simple murder.
Mr. Dulles. Is that of Tippit or of the President?
Mr. Wade. No; of the President, and the radio announced Johnston was down there, and Alexander, and of course other things, and so I saw immediately that if somebody was going to take a complaint that he is part of an international conspiracy it had to be a publicity deal rather—somebody was interested in something other than the law because there is no such charge in Texas as part of—I don't care what you belong to, you don't have to allege that in an indictment.
Mr. Rankin. What do you mean by the radio saying that Johnson was there? Do you mean President Johnson?
Mr. Wade. No; that is the justice of the peace whose name is Johnston.
Mr. Rankin. I see.
Mr. Wade. Yes; Justice of the Peace David L. Johnston was the justice of the peace there.
So, I went down there not knowing—also at that time I had a lengthy conversation with Captain Fritz and with Jim Alexander who was in the office, Bill Alexander, Bookhout because another reason I thought maybe they were going to want to file without the evidence, and then that put everything on me, you know.